The England Under-21 manager, Stuart Pearce, has said he feels Jack Wilshere is fully focused on football again but cannot guarantee the Arsenal midfielder a place in the side for tomorrow night's crucial European Championship qualifier against Lithuania.

Wilshere was left on the bench in Portugal for the 1-0 win on Friday, with Pearce suggesting the 18-year-old had "taken his eye off the ball" after he was arrested and bailed after an evening out in Kensington.

Pearce, though, has said the midfielder – who made his senior international debut as a late substitute in last month's friendly victory over Hungary at Wembley last month – is in the right frame of mind to play.

But the former England captain said he could not guarantee Wilshere a starting role in the game at Colchester's Weston Homes Community Stadium, a match his side must win to stand any chance of making the play-offs.

"Jack has been exactly the same as all the other players who weren't involved in Portugal – fantastic. His attitude has been very good," said Pearce.

"I have seen a touch more focus. Leading into the Portugal game, he was swapping phone calls with his agent and one to two other people in regards to newspaper articles which were going on. We just did not feel it was right to start him in Portugal.

"Since then, we think his focus has been much better. It is difficult for a young man, there are a lot of pressures on young players at the best of times. It is my job to read those situations as best I can."

Pearce continued: "I will let them all know what the team is tomorrow and there will be seven or so who are not in the starting line-up who will be disappointed.

"But one thing I can guarantee – and it has happened for three years now – they will support the players in the team and when their chance does come, they will take it."

The former Manchester City manager also said that managers still have a role to play in educating and supporting players off the field. "Managers have to be available all the time for the players," he said. "At times, managers have to be sympathetic, they have to be stern at times and make tough decisions. The players' wellbeing is vitally important.

"But as long as there is a fairness in the players' eyes about what we are trying to achieve collectively – the team is much more important than the individual, that has been, and always will be the case."

Fabio Capello has a somewhat similar issue to face over Wayne Rooney, who has been the subject of newspaper allegations concerning his private life.

Rooney has travelled with the rest of the England squad to prepare for tomorrow's match against Switzerland in Basle, but it remains to be seen whether the Manchester United forward starts at St Jakob Park.

"Fabio will judge that, and he has been in the game a long, long time," said Pearce, who works as one of the Italian's assistants. "One thing you do know is you have to make sure individual players have got a focus and it will not detract from their performance. If in your own mind it is clear that will be the case, you select the likes of Wayne Rooney, who is an outstanding talent.

"If you feel it won't and someone else is pushing for a place, then you put them in."